Blue Devils are dialed in (VIDEO)

LEOMINSTER -- Forgive the Leominster boys' lacrosse team for having a chip on its shoulder.

After missing the playoffs by one game last season, it's fair to assume the entire program is set on reaching the postseason this spring.

"These kids want to be back in the playoffs," said Leominster head coach Colin Davis, now in his 13th year with the team.

"We missed it by a game last year. It's a big deal for us to get back in there. More importantly, once we get in there, we should be geared up to make a run.

"We're starting to get to that level where our expectations need to rise a little. Making the playoffs is great, but making some noise once you get there is the ultimate goal. We've got to get in first, but that's our main focus.

Leominster senior captain and midfielder John Kenneally didn't mince words when describing how it felt not qualifying for postseason play.

"That was a tough season," he said. "It really stunk to not make the playoffs."

Of course, the radar-lock focus is on making a return trip to the playoffs.

"It means a ton to them," Davis said. "I've heard our leaders talk about it. They know what it feels like to miss it by one game and think about it all fall, summer and winter. I know I thought about it all three of those seasons.

They are motivated.

"The ultimate goal is to get back in there and end some seasons once we get there.

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Despite only having six seniors on the roster, led by captains Kenneally and senior attack Malcolm Weston, the Blue Devils certainly have some top-end skill.

"We have one of the more skilled teams that we've ever had," Davis said.

"We move the ball around. It's markedly different than in years past. We really can spin the ball a little bit better. The passing in practice has been better than it's ever been. Overall from a skill perspective, I've got to give a ton of credit to Leominster Youth Lacrosse. We're bringing up kids now who know the game.

"We'll be a more skilled team, but we'll still have that trademark of being a blue-collar team and being the team that outworks the other team. You add some skill into that and it's a good thing."

Junior attack Ross Howlett is a top talent. He was a scoring machine last season with team-leading 46 goals and was second in points with 83.

Weston (20 goals) and freshman Zack Jackson will bolster the scoring from the attack.

Junior Dan Reed -- a starting defenseman last season -- is making the move to midfield.

He had four goals, two assists and 112 ground balls a year ago.

"Dan can kind of do everything," Davis said. "Last year I thought he was one of the best defensemen in the league. This year we think he can be a real difference-maker for us at midfield. He can score."

Leominster has the luxury of one of the top defensemen around in junior third-year starting long-stick John Doherty.

"I think John is one of the best long-stick midfielders out there," Davis said.

"He's always grabbing ground balls and always is covering the other team's best midfielder. He plays pretty much the whole game. He's tough.

"He has one of the highest lacrosse IQ's on the team. He's a leader out there. He's a real important defensive player for us."

Davis is also extremely high on his young goaltenders -- sophomore Ken Aubuchon (77 saves) and freshman Evan Falandys.

"We are excited to have both," Davis said.

"The both had outstanding tryouts."

There's already a bond forming with these Blue Devils.

That can only help as the season progresses.

"A lot of us have been playing together since sixth, seventh grade with youth," Kenneally said. "We do a lot of the tournaments before the season. We do indoor and that's really good. It's not a full-field thing, but we get to get together and hang out afterward. I think this is the first year in a while that every person the team feels like part of a family."

Weston added:

"We're all together, we're close like a family, everyone is friendly on the team and I think we'll come out strong."

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